WCAI News

In the past few weeks, the Steamship Authority has struggled to maintain ferry service to Martha’s Vineyard. Its two large boats have suffered repeated mechanical issues, while another large ferry was undergoing a winter overhaul. A fast ferry was brought in to provide service in the meantime—and it’s gotten plenty of attention from ferry riders.

State House lawmakers passed a bill late last month that would add a tax to short-term rentals such as those listed on Air BnB. Cape lawmakers pushed for an amendment that would let their towns add a surcharge specifically designed to help pay for the region's looming wastewater pollution crisis.

WCAI's Kathryn Eident checks in with State House Reporter Mike Deehan about the Legislature's budget planning, their rejection of an aid in dying bill, and their upcoming work on a massive criminal justice reform bill.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) met on Tuesday evening for their annual safety assessment of the Pilgrim power plant in Plymouth. After a presentation from officials of Entergy, the company that owns the plant, the commission deemed the site improving, but still in need of its highest tier of oversight.

Last week’s nor’easter covered some areas of Cape Cod with over a foot of snow, and left many without power for days. Power outages this time were mostly caused by an unusual number of roadside trees uprooting and falling over.

Across the Cape, the South Coast, and the Islands, power crews continue working to restore electricity to homes knocked out by the powerful, slow-moving storm that struck the region Friday night and continued with strong winds through Saturday.

More than a week after the mass shootings at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., the nation is still reeling from the deaths of 17 students and teachers. Once again there have been calls for gun control legislation, as this time teens nationwide rally in support of school safety.

WCAI's Kathryn Eident talked with U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., about gun control and asked him: Does he think this time will be different?

The state’s Republican Party took an unusual stance this week and essentially endorsed Governor Charlie Baker over a would-be challenger ahead of the primary. Normally the party takes a neutral stance on candidates in the interest of holding a fair primary. WCAI's Kathryn Eident talks with State House Reporter Mike Deehan about why the GOP changed its mind.

Learning a new language has long been a requirement at most American high schools. While the typical offerings include Spanish, French, and Latin, in Mashpee, a small group of students is taking on a language that hasn’t been spoken fluently in centuries. WCAI’s Kathryn Eident has more on the Wôpanâak Language class at Mashpee High School.

Edward Hopper is probably Provincetown’s most famous artist, but until a few years ago, not many of his works could be found on the Cape. The Provincetown Art Association and Museum had one watercolor—by his wife, Jo—and a couple of Edward’s sketches from art school. Then one day Museum Director Chris McCarthy’s phone rang.

The Trump administration recently announced it was canceling Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for some 200,000 immigrants from El Salvador. The program has allowed those people to live and work legally in the US.

A sewer line that provides service to about 80% percent of Nantucket's homes broke late last week, forcing officials to send more than 2.5 million gallons of sewage into Nantucket Harbor. Crews worked throughout the weekend to install a bypass to reroute the sewage back to the treatment plant.

A catastrophic sewer break on Nantucket has released more than one million gallons of sewage and stormwater into Nantucket Harbor. Roberto Santamaria, the island’s Health Director, said the winter weather is likely to blame for the rupture.